Virgin Gorda’s Summer Jam basketball league got under way at the Jeffery Caines Arena on Saturday.
This year’s league will feature 22 teams competing in three different divisions.
The league started with an opening ceremony where14 teams in uniform participated in a march pass.
After the ceremony, the first game was played between the defending B Division champions Letz Get it and Terror Squad.
Terror Squad jumped out to an earlier lead and led by as much as 10 points throughout the first half.
However, Letz Get It cut the lead to five points, 28-23, by the end of the first half.
It wasn’t until the third quarter that Letz Get It was able to tie the game with about a minute left in the quarter. Letz Get It started scored 20 points to Terror Squads’ 16 points in the third quarter, but still led by one point, 44-43, at the start of the fourth quarter.
With about seven minutes left in the game, Letz Get It took the lead after Kimron Telemaque was fouled when shooting. He would make the shot and covert on one of two free throws to put his team ahead by three points, 50-47.
The momentum of the game appeared to be in Letz Get It’s favour after William Penn Jr. scored two back-to-back dunks. He finished the game with 28 points.
But Terror Squad’s offense responded and was able to break the tie with just seconds left in the game to pull off the win, 65-64.
Ethan O’Neal has been coaching the Terror Squad for the past four years. He said winning the first game of the season was “very important.”
“This was the team we lost the championship to,” Mr. O’Neal said.
He described his team as “very good,” which has had league success in previous years. He said Letz Get It is always a tough competitor, but has heard that are other teams this year that could prove to be a challenge as well.
“I have a lot of expectations this year,” the coach said.
Letz Get It Coach Erwin Telemaque said his team could have did a better job controlling the pace of the game and rebounding.
Shomar George of Terror Squad led his team with 16 rebounds.
“Basically we took too long to gel and play our game,” Mr. Telemaque said. “During the first half, Terror Squad played a good game. …We couldn’t control the tempo. We started to play our game a little too late and as you can see we fell a little short.”
In the first quarter, Letz Get it only scored eight points to Terror Squad’s 17 points.
The defending champions added only two new players from its undefeated team last year. Mr. Telemaque was looking at the positive side of losing the first game of the season.
“I wanted to get a loss to see how the team would recover from it,” the coach said. “We were due for a loss. It will bring the fire back into our guys and whoever the next team is, they will pay for it.”
Letz Get It will face Youth On Fire on Sept. 6.
Games continue this weekend.
Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture Lorna Stevens gave remarks on behalf of MEC Minister Myron Walwyn during the opening ceremony. She talked about the department’s commitment to the territory’s youth and plans for the roof over the VG basketball court.
“For years they have been saying that,” Mr. O’Neal said. “[However,] the plan that I saw, seems like it could happen. This time I believe in them.”
Mr. O’Neal said government officials had told some of the coaches and league organisers that construction could start during the league, but were asked when construction should begin.
Mr. Telemaque was one of the coaches who gave his input.
“We told them that we don’t want any interruptions to our league,” Mr. Telemaque said. “They promised us as soon as the league finishes they will start.”
The league is scheduled to finish in December.
Mr. Telemaque added that steel for the project is currently being delivered to VG from China.
“Basically we been promised a gym here for the longest while,” Mr. Telemaque said. “The plans that I have saw are something I can have confidence in. It is something we have been talking about for a long time — just cover our court and give us a simple something to keep our basketball growing.”
In the second game on Saturday, the East Rockers beat Set It Off, 87-82, in overtime.
David Lettsome of the East Rockers led all scorers with 32 points and four rebounds. He scored nine points in overtime, while Devon Watty finished with 22 points.
Set It Off’s top scorers were Coy Dore with 19 points and Kennedy Bass with 18 points.
Last year’s finals MVP Travis Isaac had 16 points and 15 rebounds, but fouled out.
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